12 Ways to Protect Your Mail From Identity Thieves

By Dawn Handschuh, Personal Finance Writer   

If you could crawl inside the brain of an identity thief, here's what he'd be thinking:

Hmmm. It's a heck of a lot easier for me to steal mail
than rob a bank. If I'm caught, I'll probably get off with
just a fine, I won't risk getting shot, and I probably won't
do time.

While it's a federal crime, the penalty for mail theft or filing a false change-of-address order is a $2,000 fine, up to five years' imprisonment or both. For identity theft victims, that's small consolation.

Mailboxes are the gateway to financial fraud. Mail theft is an opportunistic crime, one that looks like a bottomless cookie jar for mail thieves. Here are 12 identity theft prevention tips.

Incoming mail

• The days when you could leave your house unlocked are history, and the days of the unlocked mailbox should be, too. Get a locked mailbox, post office box or a mail slot in your front door. Unlocked curbside boxes in rural areas are most at risk.
• Never leave mail in your mailbox overnight; retrieve it soon after delivery.
• Don't let delivered packages sit on your doorstep.
• If you're going away, don't let mail accumulate in your mailbox. File a temporary mail stop with the Post Office.
• Don't let your bank mail you new checks. Pick them up instead. Stolen blank checks can be fenced for $2 each.
• Shred unwanted credit card offers, credit card receipts, phone bills and bank and investment statements before discarding.
• Don't receive financial statements by mail. Opt for online statements and direct-deposit paychecks.
• If mail theft has spiked in your neighborhood, organize a neighborhood watch program.

Outgoing mail

• Don't put outgoing mail in your box with the red flag up. That's like yelling, "Come and get it!" to identity thieves.
• Avoid using overstuffed USPS mailboxes during holiday season.
• Don't leave outgoing mail in your employer's mail drop-off.
• Switch from mailing checks to electronic bill payment, which is safer.

If your mail's stolen, call your local postmaster, and file PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint. Report suspicious activity by calling 1-877-876-2455, toll-free.